Faculty Research Areas

Physics Faculty

Anthony Aguirre, Cosmology, both of the early and late universe: inflation and the global structure of cosmological models; the intergalactic medium and its enrichment with heavy elements; galaxy formation, evolution, and feedback processes; dark matter and theories of modified gravity. Ph.D. Harvard University, 2000.

David Lederman, Lederman's research group seeks to understand the fundamental properties of materials in reduced dimensions, such as ultra thin films and heterostructures. Because of the reduced dimensionality and/or the strong effect of surface and interface states, electronic and magnetic order and interactions can emerge which yield unexpected and interesting phenomena. The group also studies how these properties can be exploited to develop new electronic devices that are stable at room temperature and use low power to store and manipulate data.

Arthur Ramirez, Experimental materials physics encompassing a broad range of systems including semiconductors, superconductors, magnets, thermoelectrics, and dielectrics. Research that connects materials and devices, with a focus on oxides and organics.

Alexander Sher, Development of experimental techniques for recording and stimulation of activity of hundreds of neurons and use of these techniques to study neural function, structure, and development. PhD University of Pittsburgh, PA 2002.David M. Smith, High-energy astrophysics; X-ray and gamma-ray detectors and instrumentation;solar, terrestrial, and planetary sources of gamma radiation, Ph.D University of California, Berkeley, 1993.

Stephanie L. Bailey, Physics Education, Ph.D., College of William and Mary, 2007. Committed to serving undergraduates and increasing the number of STEM graduates at UCSC, with those graduates reflecting the diversity of the UCSC population.